New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-09
WAS 1T MURDER :
From The Atlanta Constftutfon.

From The atlanta Constitution,
group Of ocers stood In an Atlanta book store one
sIltry afternoon in sixtyour discussing tho execution
was on the ether side Of the md
now and then interrupted their conversation SSS
But 1t murderf
horrOrstricken to the running talk around me- It had
been remarked that ono Of the deserers who had boon
shot an bonr before was youth 81 sixteen.
felt rather cory for the soy" s,d the CAPTAIN
Discipline must be maintained at any cost" put n
: Yes. OF course" assented the CAPTAIN.
Beyond doubt" the Maor's comment
Besides" said the General. he longer boy.
He was soldier, and when lie deserted lie knew the
Jusi sO echoed the others simultaneously but their
faces wore q cloudy look.
Tho General picked up JOminfs Art OF War." ana
spoke Of 1t as greatly oyerrated book:
"What Is the price OF tf" he inquired
Fifteen dollars" replied the booyssllsr 49,,
'You 500. gentlemen said the Geaeral how taese
dollars Tor a book worth dirty cents!'' .,-,-
The military all glared at the bookseller. who
~'s's said the Captain apparently rsune his talk
never so affected in my life rs was when saw
'":i Did ni he aiaehl asked the Major.
S He Was ey pail. ana q. syss Ss i
the He stood 1t ike hero never trembied aud
had n. T n.a aSSy h% e he hr s the
Yes. -Four balls through the heart"
General. picked up Mshan on Field Fortacations;"
heard that the boy belonged TO good family sai
i Hins escap . than anything else
intsrrSpted the Captain he would have been let on
the % a1 s; ss ss
Boom! Boom Numbered the cannon over the mus a.
why should anybody look after hint" interposed the
General. We must look after the army aud its dis
: |: RBseSi ,,., . ..,., ,
reached a point where We must make an example OK
every man who falls TO do his duty"
admit H." replied the Captain but 1T makes my
0'T The ru General tucked Jomus Art of in his
pocket and paid for it. yhon he turned around and
now listen to me-" he said tmlressvey: you Ger;
tainy will give ms credit fo the average sI'Sn, %
agree with you about that deserter According 20 all
what aid he sD DO, When wa.
tSs ' he snsa:d OF Woods sone
he going to see his mother II docs not mstter s
DO spared The army would 10 demoTa!1ed; ., Desss;
lions would be the order Of the day we had 20 steos
us drop The subject I knew that am right. and I
should Ike to see any one stand up and say that am
wrong"
The wave Of thunderous sound rolled over the whole
city, and people stopped to listen .
Just then light wagon covered with dust and evil
TWO women alisstsd and came In One was quite young
and the other who was old enough to be her mother
Have you an evening paperr tho young woman
asked the bookseller.
He handed ono TO her. and the old woman, arranging
her spectaeles GLANCED nervously over II.
YES II that there was an execution here TO-
day" sue whispered hurriediy to her companion
BoOml 49,,
For some reason the officers relapsed into an enbar-
ras,ed silence. The Major with his index finger COM
menced drawing Notifications on map or Georgia Inc
pulled Jomns Art War" Of his pocket and teen
thrust il back again.
"Oh. mercy 90 exclaimed the young woman in a low
tone those people told us the truth then"
"Oh. my God! Ny poor murdered boyF
Wild Was
man In the room started in alarm.
The old woman had fallen back In char gaspilg Tor
breath, with her face as white as a sheet.
Her companion gently famed her until she laid her
gray head on her hand and sObbed aloud
Turning TO the sympathetic and Silent spectators the
young woman pointed to paragraph IN the paper and
ssd: =.
IL was her boy-her only son. The paper calls 10
military -tice. We Call II muIder"
The General gradually moved toward the door. His
mead was bowed and his hands trembled. As soon as
made several Intellectual attempts 10 build strong re-
doubt with his finger tip the map OF Georgia but sud
denly collapsed and ABRUPTLY bOltod The Captain re-
NAMED He brought the cid woman glass OF water,
and famed her while he listened with sad but kindly
face the young woman's story. ,,.,
IL that boys mother lived thirty miles In ms
country Vague reports reached her that her In
,rouble aud she rode IN with neghopr, arriving an
hour or two after the execution caught TINS much OK
IT, and then an desire seized me 70 follow tho ex
am ple of the General aud the Major AS went out OF
the door looked back The old woman was silently
praying while the tears ran down her withered cheeks
Her TREND looked down upon her with plying eyes, aud
tine Captain had one hand over his bronzed face Inc
big guns continued boom all that afternoon, but do
not hear them. hai something else 10 think or